On a forest path in Calmas, a truck was driving. In any case, this transport vehicle could at least carry the Primarch, Zabriel, and the Lion Guard to the northwest corner of Calmas City.
Here, Lion ElJonson disembarked and re-entered the dense forest of Calmas.
"Have you sensed anything, my Lord?" Zabriel asked after dismounting.
"I don't know," Lion ElJonson said softly, "It's more like something is calling to me."
"Perhaps an enemy device?" Zabriel asked cautiously.
Lion ElJonson shook his head. He felt a strange gravitational pull on his soul, yet it was without intelligence or malice, merely a pure yearning.
The feeling was not like the whisper of any Chaos God; it was more like nature itself calling, the trees swaying continuously in the wind as if welcoming an arrival.
"Stay vigilant," he stepped deeper into the forest, "I don't think there are enemies, but it's always good to be cautious."
The forests of Calmas were gentler than those of Caliban, without overly dense branches or fierce beasts.
The forest showed signs of a natural cycle; lush green moss covered the ground, vines entwined ancient tree trunks, and occasionally bird calls echoed through it.
Lion ElJonson had heard rumors that travelers who fell asleep in this forest would be entangled by vines and disappear forever. Although he had never witnessed it himself, this was not enough for him to easily dismiss the stories as false.
"My Lord?" Zabriel's voice held a hint of confusion.
"Further still," Lion ElJonson replied, though he didn't know the exact direction or target. But that vague pull seemed to be guiding him.
They climbed into a valley on one side of the forest, where a low mist enveloped the ground, gently swirling with their steps.
Zabriel checked his armor's sensor readings but found the data abnormal.
"These readings are strange, the… where exactly are we?" Zabriel's tone was uneasy.
Lion ElJonson put on his helmet to check, only to find his own sensors completely dead. Even the time information had inexplicably vanished. He took off his helmet and sniffed the air.
Zabriel looked at him in confusion, "My Lord?"
"Take off your helmet and look around," Lion ElJonson said concisely.
Zabriel obeyed the command, carefully removing his helmet. His eyes narrowed slightly in the mist, then he let out a soft gasp.
"It's a forest, my Lord."
"Which forest?" Lion ElJonson's voice held a hint of probing.
Zabriel froze, his gaze sweeping around. He whispered, "It reminds me of the forests of Caliban from a long time ago."
Lion ElJonson nodded, "It seems I'm not the only one who thinks so."
He then explained to his guards that he had emerged from a similar forest when he first arrived in Calmas. This was not an illusion or sorcery, but some unknown force.
A thought arose in his mind: Was this his destiny or his father's trial?
Just then, a low howl came from the distance, echoing through the trees. Zabriel gripped his weapon, looking around alertly.
Lion ElJonson moved swiftly through the trees, but not so fast that the mortals couldn't keep up (He's too gentle!).
Lion ElJonson led the way with the sword of loyalty, while Zabriel held his twin pistols, covering the rear of the group.
Lion ElJonson could sense his son's unease with all of this, but he admired Zabriel's choice to remain silent about his own feelings.
These mortal Lion Guard were doing their best to maintain morale, but if even a Space Marine showed signs of wavering, it would be a heavy blow to them.
Lion ElJonson didn't know how he chose his path; the forest seemed to constantly change yet also remain eternally the same, but he never hesitated.
Something ahead of him pulled him forward like a magnet.
The previous howl sounded again, this time from behind them, seemingly closer than before. Then another distinctly different cry rang out, still trailing them but approaching from another direction.
"They are hunting us," Zabriel whispered into his comms, careful not to let the Lion Guard hear them, but Lion ElJonson knew the mortals had reached similar conclusions.
"They are the beasts of Caliban," Lion ElJonson replied softly.
Zabriel was astonished: "I thought you had killed them all on Caliban back then."
"I did kill them all. But as far as I know, most of Caliban no longer exists, yet look where we are."
"This must be some Warp trick."
"If it truly is beasts pursuing us, I have a handy weapon to fight them," Lion ElJonson said, gripping the sword of loyalty, "But I once walked out of this place, perhaps we..."
He suddenly stopped, looking at something between the distant tree canopies: a white stone dome, though only a corner was visible, The Lion would not mistake it.
"Why have we stopped?" Captain Mikiya asked nervously, looking around as if the forest might at any moment throw some fierce predator at them.
What she thought might not be far from reality.
"I don't recall seeing anything like this on Caliban," Zabriel said flatly.
Several guards looked at him in confusion, but Lion ElJonson ignored his words. A building might offer them refuge from the beasts' hunt, a position for these mortals to defend, a sanctuary where he and Zabriel could go out and deal with the predators.
The beasts of Caliban were indeed formidable, but that was for the Knights of Caliban who, in those days, possessed only courage and martial skill. It was a different matter entirely for Space Marine clad in power armor and wielding bolter weapons.
But Lion ElJonson recalled the Dark Watcher's warning: *Don't go that way, he is not yet strong enough.*
Lion ElJonson couldn't know if he now possessed the strength the Watcher deemed him to lack.
However, he had now regained his memories, but all his memories reminded him to heed the words of the Dark Watcher.
Furthermore, if he himself was still lacking, then his companions were even further behind. For now, Lion ElJonson's curiosity had to be set aside; the safety of those under his command was paramount. (Lion ElJonson! You are so gentle!)
"Forget it," he said, setting off again, "It's no help to us."
Lion ElJonson did not urge the group to speed up, but with another cry from the beasts, the group spontaneously quickened their pace.
Those howling animals, if they were indeed animals, were closing in.
Although the exact distance remained hard to tell, Lion ElJonson could clearly discern it from their gradually rising calls.
"We must find a defensible position," Zabriel said over the comms, "otherwise these humans won't stand a chance. I don't understand these creatures, but there are at least two of them, and I can't guarantee I can hold them both at once."
"We're almost there," Lion ElJonson replied without thinking.
"Almost where?"
As the group hastened their steps, the surrounding mist grew thicker. The scene in the forest seemed to begin to distort, the outlines of trees blurred, the light became eerie, as if even time had stopped flowing here.
Suddenly, they found themselves no longer in the forest of Calmas, nor in that forest similar to Caliban.
The tree trunks before them were slender and tall, their branches luxuriant like canopies, obscuring the sky. Scorching sunlight filtered through giant long leaves into the forest, and the ground transformed from moss and fallen leaves into soft sand.
The scent of roasted meat filled the air, and laughter of young men and women occasionally drifted from the distant mansion.
"What is this place?" Zabriel's voice held undisguised shock.
Just then, an unfamiliar voice came from afar.
"Hey! Who are you?"
The Lion turned around, only to see an armored vehicle approaching, one Lion ElJonson had never seen before. Clearly, this vehicle belonged to the guards of the nearby mansion. Lion ElJonson initially wanted to grab his weapon, but then he saw the Aquila emblem on it, and a unit banner with a 'Coiling Dragon Double-Headed Eagle'.
Lion ElJonson could at least confirm that the other party was an allied force of the Imperium. And that coiling dragon motif, Lion ElJonson remembered that The Eleventh Brother, Gaius, was very fond of those dragons.
"If they are dragons, then so be it," Lion ElJonson murmured.
When the Soldier on the armored vehicle saw Lion ElJonson's towering figure and his fully armed retinue, he was clearly stunned. He quickly recognized that they belonged to the Dark Angels Space Marine Chapter from the shoulder insignia of the 'extra-large' Space Marine and the 'medium-sized' Space Marine.
"My Lord, are the Dark Angels here on Lord Li Feng's business? I recall your garrison is in the south of the planet, over 100 kilometers from here?"
"Which planet is this?" Lion ElJonson asked calmly, ignoring the mention of "Lord Li Feng" from the other party.
"This is... Avalon's, my Lord," the man stammered in reply, his voice mixed with awe. He had clearly recognized that these were Imperial personnel, and likely realized the extraordinary identity of this extra-large Space Marine.
"Which Solar Auxilia unit are you? Now the Astra Militarum..."
"My Lord... we are Lord Li Feng's Princes Guard. We are part of the Imperial Guard's Valhalla 597th Imperial Guard Armored Combined Regiment... May I ask, what—what is your esteemed name?"
The Lion looked straight at the tank commander on the armored vehicle. Clearly, this was an Imperial citizen from a world that still upheld Imperial law. And this man belonged to the army of "Father's friend," which meant Father's friend was nearby... "I am Lion ElJonson, Primarch of the First Legion, the Dark Angels, the Emperor's loyal son!" He said, sheathing the sword of loyalty, "I need to speak with the commander of this place."
Just then, the door of the nearby mansion opened, and Russ, wearing shorts, shirtless, and an apron, walked out with barbecue tongs and an axe... "Which scoundrel is shouting my brother's name!!!!"
Lion ElJonson saw Russ over there, and Russ saw Lion ElJonson over here... Lion ElJonson trembled all over, looking at the familiar face opposite him... "So I... am not alone..."
The barbecue tongs and the great axe fell to the ground. At this moment, another familiar face to Lion ElJonson emerged from behind Russ... The Khan walked out, scratching the water in his ear with his pinky, patting Russ on the shoulder... "Who is it? Huh! Lion ElJonson? Why are you so old?"
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